The Playroom constantly states the obvious. For instance, nearly every time some finishes their drink, they proclaim, “I need a drink!” There is a also close-up of a newspaper article announcing the arrest of Patty Hearst, in case we didn’t catch that it takes place in the 1970s. More examples of this occur throughout the film, but said obviousness in direction quickly grows tiring – just give the audience some more credit. Directed by Julia Dyer, and scripted by her sister Gretchen Dyer, The Playroom tells the story of one evening in the lives of four suburban children, cared for chiefly by their teenage sister Maggie (newcomer Olivia Harris), as they are sequestered in their upstairs playroom while their parents Martin and Donna (John Hawkes and Molly Parker) get increasingly drunk and debaucherous downstairs with another couple, Clark and Nadia (Jonathan Brooks and Lydia MacKay). To disguise their feelings of abandonment, they...
- 2/8/2013
- by Caitlin Hughes
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
While he may have missed out on an Academy Award nomination for yet another great performance in "The Sessions," fans of actor John Hawkes don't have to wait long to see him again on the big screen. Once again changing gears, the actor stars alongside the underrated Molly Parker in the indie drama "The Playroom," a film that promises a peek behind the curtain of seemingly stable suburban life. Written by Gretchen Dyer and directed by Julia Dyer (who previously teamed on "Late Bloomers"), the story, set in the 1970s, follows a couple whose hurts and betrayals are brought to the fore during a boozy party, all while their children steal away to the attic, where they conjure up stories of their own. It's the kind of small drama that doesn't get made in the studio system anymore, a fact cited by the actors in this exclusive, seven-minute behind-the-scenes featurette as the reason,...
- 2/7/2013
- by Kevin Jagernauth
- The Playlist
The ’70s-set family drama The Playroom, starring John Hawkes and the underrated Molly Parker premiered last spring at the Tribeca Fim Festival, but the first clip has newly arrived. Now we have the first theatrical trailer for the film which failed to get much traction.
Freestyle’s upcoming indie drama directed by Julia Dyer (Late Bloomers) is slated for a day and date release on theatrical and DVD/VOD February 8th, 2013. The film written by Julia’s sister Gretchen Dyer sees a family straining beneath a pleasant facade.
The film also stars Molly Parker, Cody Linley, Lydia MacKay, and Olivia Harris. It seems like one of Hawkes’ forgettable indies, but check it out for yourself and maybe you’ll feel differently.
Click here to view the embedded video.
Here’s the official synopsis:
Set in the suburbs during the 1970s, the story unfolds like a dream wrapped around a family drama,...
Freestyle’s upcoming indie drama directed by Julia Dyer (Late Bloomers) is slated for a day and date release on theatrical and DVD/VOD February 8th, 2013. The film written by Julia’s sister Gretchen Dyer sees a family straining beneath a pleasant facade.
The film also stars Molly Parker, Cody Linley, Lydia MacKay, and Olivia Harris. It seems like one of Hawkes’ forgettable indies, but check it out for yourself and maybe you’ll feel differently.
Click here to view the embedded video.
Here’s the official synopsis:
Set in the suburbs during the 1970s, the story unfolds like a dream wrapped around a family drama,...
- 1/18/2013
- by Nick Martin
- Filmofilia
Here's a reminder, as the Sundance Film Festival gets underway, that not every movie at a festival is going to make it or be remembered. And so it goes for "The Playroom." The film starring John Hawkes and the underrated Molly Parker premiered last spring to not much fanfare at the Tribeca Fim Festival, and even with someone like Hawkes in the cast, it failed to get much traction. And now, just under a year later, it's quite ready to quietly be released and live the rest of its life out in the wild. A new trailer and clip has arrived for "The Playroom," a '70s set drama that sees a family straining beneath a pleasant facade. Written by Gretchen Dyer and directed by her sister Julie Dyer (the sisters’ first film, “Late Bloomers,” premiered at Sundance in 1996), the film is told through the eyes of the children of a married couple,...
- 1/17/2013
- by Kevin Jagernauth
- The Playlist
We’ve all seen stories about the effects alcoholism has on children — for better, worse, and often somewhere in that underwhelming middle ground. And while I’m not averse to this mold, so long as it’s crafted with care, one of the main pleasures to be found in The Playroom is director Julia Dyer‘s tendency to — sometimes in a literal, visual sense — put the perfunctory conflicts and confrontations that would typically stem from this in the background, opting to place the children of a troubled husband and wife at the center of things.
Set almost exclusively in a suburban home in the fall of 1975, The Playroom revolves around four children (Olivia Harris, Ian Veteto, Jonathon McClendon, and Alexandra Doke) living in a household run by two parents (John Hawkes and Molly Parker) who, though not dysfunctional on the surface, are slowly pulling themselves apart with the trappings of alcohol.
Set almost exclusively in a suburban home in the fall of 1975, The Playroom revolves around four children (Olivia Harris, Ian Veteto, Jonathon McClendon, and Alexandra Doke) living in a household run by two parents (John Hawkes and Molly Parker) who, though not dysfunctional on the surface, are slowly pulling themselves apart with the trappings of alcohol.
- 4/26/2012
- by jpraup@gmail.com (thefilmstage.com)
- The Film Stage
Yes, John Hawkes can premiere movies outside of Sundance. As a matter of fact, next month’s Tribeca Film Festival will see the world premiere of his latest drama, The Playroom, directed by Julia Dyer; Gretchen Dyer is behind the screenplay. Our first look at the film can be scoped out above and below these very words, wherein Hawkes, Molly Parker (playing his wife), the children of their characters, and an actor whose face I don’t recognize. (If he’s reading this: please accept my apology.) I’m hoping to check this one out come late April; that’s just the power of Hawkes.
Plot: In 1970s suburbia, Maggie and her younger siblings spend the night telling each other stories in the attic. Downstairs, as their parents entertain guests over the course of a gin-soaked evening, truths are unearthed and betrayals come to light.
Plot: In 1970s suburbia, Maggie and her younger siblings spend the night telling each other stories in the attic. Downstairs, as their parents entertain guests over the course of a gin-soaked evening, truths are unearthed and betrayals come to light.
- 3/23/2012
- by jpraup@gmail.com (thefilmstage.com)
- The Film Stage
2012 Tribeca Film Festival Announces Film Selections
For Spotlight And Cinemania Sections And Special Screenings
***
Tribeca/Espn Sports Film Festival Lineup Also Revealed
The Tribeca Film Festival (Tff), presented by American Express, today announced its feature film selections in the Spotlight and Cinemania sections, as well as Special Screenings and the Tribeca/Espn Sports Film Festival lineup. The 11th edition of the Festival will take place from April 18 to April 29 in New York City.
The Spotlight section screens 34 films, 22 narratives and 12 documentaries that demonstrate the breadth of films at the Tribeca Film Festival. Nineteen films in the selection will have their world premieres at the Festival. The Cinemania section offers a largely international assortment of seven thrilling narrative films.
.The Spotlight program is a wonderful encapsulation of the originality and diversity of filmmaking that Tribeca seeks to highlight. We have films from emerging filmmakers as well as seasoned veterans, narratives that...
For Spotlight And Cinemania Sections And Special Screenings
***
Tribeca/Espn Sports Film Festival Lineup Also Revealed
The Tribeca Film Festival (Tff), presented by American Express, today announced its feature film selections in the Spotlight and Cinemania sections, as well as Special Screenings and the Tribeca/Espn Sports Film Festival lineup. The 11th edition of the Festival will take place from April 18 to April 29 in New York City.
The Spotlight section screens 34 films, 22 narratives and 12 documentaries that demonstrate the breadth of films at the Tribeca Film Festival. Nineteen films in the selection will have their world premieres at the Festival. The Cinemania section offers a largely international assortment of seven thrilling narrative films.
.The Spotlight program is a wonderful encapsulation of the originality and diversity of filmmaking that Tribeca seeks to highlight. We have films from emerging filmmakers as well as seasoned veterans, narratives that...
- 3/8/2012
- by Melissa Howland
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
A new big batch of films have been added to the 2012 Tribeca Film Festival line-up, and while there aren't a lot of big premieres in the bunch, there's a lot to catch up with for those of you (and us) who didn't attend Tiff 2011, Sundance 2012, etc. etc.
Highlights for us include Sarah Polley's sophomore directorial effort "Take This Waltz," starring Seth Rogen and Michelle Williams, Julie Delpy's "2 Days In New York," starring herself and Chris Rock in a sequel to "2 Days in Paris," Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud's "Chicken With Plums," their directorial follow-up to the very excellent 2007 animated film "Persepolis," Lynn Shelton's "Your Sister's Sister" starring Emily Blunt, Rosemarie DeWitt and Mark Duplass, and "Lola Versus," Daryl Wein and Zoe Lister Jones' follow-up to the celebrated 2009 micro-budgeted indie "Breaking Upwards" starring Lister Jones herself alongside Greta Gerwig, Joel Kinnaman (AMC's "The Killing," the new "RoboCop"), Bill Pullman,...
Highlights for us include Sarah Polley's sophomore directorial effort "Take This Waltz," starring Seth Rogen and Michelle Williams, Julie Delpy's "2 Days In New York," starring herself and Chris Rock in a sequel to "2 Days in Paris," Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud's "Chicken With Plums," their directorial follow-up to the very excellent 2007 animated film "Persepolis," Lynn Shelton's "Your Sister's Sister" starring Emily Blunt, Rosemarie DeWitt and Mark Duplass, and "Lola Versus," Daryl Wein and Zoe Lister Jones' follow-up to the celebrated 2009 micro-budgeted indie "Breaking Upwards" starring Lister Jones herself alongside Greta Gerwig, Joel Kinnaman (AMC's "The Killing," the new "RoboCop"), Bill Pullman,...
- 3/8/2012
- by The Playlist
- The Playlist
Tribeca 2012 Announces Final Line-Up Including ’2 Days,’ ‘Take This Waltz,’ ‘Sleepless Night’ & More
After an initial unveiling earlier this week, Tribeca Film Festival 2012 have announced the rest of their feature film line-up and it is a surprisingly strong one. We’ve got lots of great films that have premiered at previous fests.
There is July Delpy‘s 2 Days In New York (our Sundance review here), Sarah Polley‘s Take This Waltz (our Vancouver review here), the awesome action thriller Sleepless Night (our Tiff review here), as well as one of my favorites from Toronto, Chicken with Plums (our Tiff review here), from the Persepolis directors. We’ve also got premieres of Jenna Fischer‘s Mechanical Man and Chris Colfer‘s Struck by Lightning, as well as docs by Billy Corben, Morgan Spurlock and Keanu Reeves‘ filmmaking doc Side by Side. Check them all out below.
Spotlight Section
2 Days in New York, directed and written by Julie Delpy. (France) – New York Premiere, Narrative. This...
There is July Delpy‘s 2 Days In New York (our Sundance review here), Sarah Polley‘s Take This Waltz (our Vancouver review here), the awesome action thriller Sleepless Night (our Tiff review here), as well as one of my favorites from Toronto, Chicken with Plums (our Tiff review here), from the Persepolis directors. We’ve also got premieres of Jenna Fischer‘s Mechanical Man and Chris Colfer‘s Struck by Lightning, as well as docs by Billy Corben, Morgan Spurlock and Keanu Reeves‘ filmmaking doc Side by Side. Check them all out below.
Spotlight Section
2 Days in New York, directed and written by Julie Delpy. (France) – New York Premiere, Narrative. This...
- 3/8/2012
- by jpraup@gmail.com (thefilmstage.com)
- The Film Stage
HollywoodNews.com: The Tribeca Film Festival (Tff), presented by American Express, today announced its feature film selections in the Spotlight and Cinemania sections, as well as Special Screenings and the Tribeca/Espn Sports Film Festival lineup. The 11th edition of the Festival will take place from April 18 to April 29 in New York City.
The Spotlight section screens 34 films, 22 narratives and 12 documentaries that demonstrate the breadth of films at the Tribeca Film Festival. Nineteen films in the selection will have their world premieres at the Festival. The Cinemania section offers a largely international assortment of seven thrilling narrative films.
‘The Spotlight program is a wonderful encapsulation of the originality and diversity of filmmaking that Tribeca seeks to highlight. We have films from emerging filmmakers as well as seasoned veterans, narratives that showcase stellar performances and insightful writing, and documentaries that challenge and inform their audiences,’ said Frédéric Boyer, newly appointed Artistic...
The Spotlight section screens 34 films, 22 narratives and 12 documentaries that demonstrate the breadth of films at the Tribeca Film Festival. Nineteen films in the selection will have their world premieres at the Festival. The Cinemania section offers a largely international assortment of seven thrilling narrative films.
‘The Spotlight program is a wonderful encapsulation of the originality and diversity of filmmaking that Tribeca seeks to highlight. We have films from emerging filmmakers as well as seasoned veterans, narratives that showcase stellar performances and insightful writing, and documentaries that challenge and inform their audiences,’ said Frédéric Boyer, newly appointed Artistic...
- 3/8/2012
- by Josh Abraham
- Hollywoodnews.com
The Tribeca Film Festival announced its Spotlight and Cinemania programs today, including Morgan Spurlock’s latest documentary, Mansome, period drama Cheerful Weather for the Wedding with Like Crazy’s Felicity Jones (right), and Struck By Lightning, written by Glee’s Chris Colfer. “It was important that we head into Tribeca’s second decade highlighting projects that were attuned to the pulse of our cultural climate,” said director of programming Genna Terranova, in a release. “That said, both consciousness and levity play a prominent role in this year’s selection. We are also eager to introduce audiences to a group of...
- 3/8/2012
- by Jeff Labrecque
- EW - Inside Movies
Anything that puts John Hawkes in more movies is Ok by me. And the great, until recently underrated actor has just bagged two new roles, so here's a pair of films to put on your watch list. First up is Chronicle, about which we've got little info. Looks like Justin Long will appear alongside Mr. Hawkes and Ryan Philippe, with possible additions that include Mickey Rourke, Helena Bonham Carter, Kate Mara, Danny Masterson and Vincent D’Onofrio. Jay Alaimo directs, and the plot reportedly [1] features "two childhood friends reunite to launch the biggest marijuana-dealing operation in New York City." As long as one of those friends is John Hawkes, we're in good shape. [The Playlist [2]] After the break, info about The Playroom, in which the actor reunites with his Deadwood co-star Molly Parker. Between these two films, The Playroom is the one I'm really psyched for. Because I like Molly Parker just...
- 1/14/2011
- by Russ Fischer
- Slash Film
"Deadwood" co-stars Molly Parker and John Hawkes ("Winter's Bone") have signed on to star in the indie drama "The Playroom" for Ten96 Films reports Variety.
Set in 1975, the pair will play suburban parents of four. Their volatile teenage daughter (Olivia Harris) acts as a kind of surrogate mother to the younger children, who themselves "have created a make-believe world in their attic hideaway while the parents act out a sordid story below".
Cody Linley also stars as the daughter's boyfriend. Julia Dyer ("Late Bloomers") directs from a script by her sister Gretchen Dyer, while Stephen Dyer ("Hysteria") and Angie Meyer producing. Shooting is currently under way in Dallas.
Set in 1975, the pair will play suburban parents of four. Their volatile teenage daughter (Olivia Harris) acts as a kind of surrogate mother to the younger children, who themselves "have created a make-believe world in their attic hideaway while the parents act out a sordid story below".
Cody Linley also stars as the daughter's boyfriend. Julia Dyer ("Late Bloomers") directs from a script by her sister Gretchen Dyer, while Stephen Dyer ("Hysteria") and Angie Meyer producing. Shooting is currently under way in Dallas.
- 1/12/2011
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Shooting has already begun in Dallas, Texas, on “The Playroom,” an independent drama about a dysfunctional family. Veteran Canadian actress Molly Parker and "Winter's Bone" star John Hawkes--who also appeared together in “Deadwood”--will star as the parents of four children in the ’70s including their volatile teenage daughter (Olivia Harris) who "acts as a surrogate mother to the younger children, who have created a make-believe world in their attic hideaway while the parents act out a sordid story below." The film is written by Gretchen Dyer and directed by her sister Julie Dyer. The sisters’ first film, “Late Bloomers,” premiered…...
- 1/12/2011
- The Playlist
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